5 Things to Remember When Crafting a Job Description

One of the most critical parts of hiring begins before you interview your first candidate — writing the job description. Your description determines what type of candidates you attract, so it’s not something you want to treat as an afterthought. It also helps you weed out unqualified candidates before you invest time in vetting and interviewing them

So, what makes a job description so compelling? Here’s what you should include so you can attract the best-fit candidates the first time around.

A Clear Job Title

Many candidates search by job title, so including the job title in the description will help your listing get discovered. That said, it’s important to be clear and not too creative or unique with the title. Being too “original” could mean not popping up in relevant searches.

Summary of Duties

Your job description opening should include a summary of the job as well as the duties it entails. Give job seekers an idea of what it’s like to work in the role and how their work fits in with the rest of the organization. 

Candidates are increasingly interested in learning more about the company’s culture from the job description. The summary is a great place to include some cultural details that will make them interested in keeping reading (and applying!).

Desired Qualifications and Experience

Listing the job qualifications can be a slippery slope. It’s no secret that you want highly skilled professionals to join your team. But an Indeed study found that 63% of job seekers have refrained from applying for a job because they didn’t meet every listed “requirement.”

Many job seekers don’t realize that a job description’s list of qualifications is often a wish list and not a must-check-all-boxes list. Not being clear about which requirements are truly required and which ones are just nice to have could discourage great candidates from applying.

Be realistic when listing out the qualifications and experience required for the job. The more items you include, the less likely it may be to find a candidate that checks every box. If possible, separate your desired qualifications into two categories: required and desired. 

Salary Range

More candidates are keen to know the salary range before they apply for the job. This can be a big time saver for both the candidate and the company, as each will feel confident that salary expectations won’t be a deal breaker for either party.

What’s more, the majority of job descriptions fail to include a salary band in the description. This can be an easy yet powerful way to stand out to job seekers who are likely exploring multiple options at once.

Perks and Benefits

Candidates want to know: What’s in it for me if I accept this position? Employers should use the job description to show candidates what else they can offer besides the obvious paycheck. Do you offer wellness programs, incentives, or even flexible working options? The right perks and benefits can sway candidates when they’re faced with multiple offers.

Writing a compelling job description will be one of the most important tasks you do to fill a position. Use the tips above and start hiring with confidence!

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